Removable power device for earthdrilling machines



Y Aug. 15 1939 w. T) LIN/ELL 2,169,678

REMOVABLE POWER DEVICE FOR EARTH-DRILLING MACHINES Filed April 6, 1958 2 Sheeis-Sheet 2" g, IIIH| Wa/fer T Ca/dwe/K Patented Aug. 15, 1939 REMOVABLE POWER DEVICE FOR EARTH- DRILLING MACHINES Walter 'r. Caldwell, Enid, om, alslgnor to The George E. Falling Supply Company, Enld,'

} 0kla., a corporation of Oklahoma g Application April 6, 1938, Serial No. 200,388

9 Claims.

This invention relates to drilling rigs that are primarily intended for use in connection with core drilling operations, the drilling of shotholes in seismicsurveying, and the like.

[to the drill bit by means of a hydraulic 'device that is supported in line with the drilling string removing the drilling string, inserting casing,

and other operations. I i

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention'to provide an improved supp rt for the hydraulic device whereby it may be readily moved into and out of operative position.

16 In accomplishing this and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

20' Fig. 1 is an elevational view of apart of a drilling unit constructed in accordance with the present invention, parts of which are shown in section to better illustrate their construction.

' Fig. 2 is a si'deelevational view-of the drilling 25 unit,and n a Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the drillinglunit, particularly illustrating the hydraulic power device.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

' -30' I designates a platformof appropriate construction and which may be mounted upon-the chassis of a motor vehicle. The rear central portion ofithe platform is provided with a substantially rectangular shaped opening 2, having 35' longitudinal guide rails 3 and I supporting a gear box or't'urntable fi-"wlthin the opening for rotating a Kelly. rod thatls connected to the "upper end of a drilling string! for rotating a drill bit 8, as in conventional practice.

- 40 'Rotat'abIy'mOunted in the gear box 5, on antifriction'bearings 9 and i0, is a drive sleeve H having an opening l2 therethrough correspond- I "ing to the cross-section of the Kelly rod. Fixed onthe sleeve is abeveled gear l3 that is rotated 45-by means of a pinion gear having connection with a suitable prime moverinot shown) that is usually carried on the platform I. I

Also carried on the platform is a tower ormas I4, having upwardly converging standards It.

so cooperating with rearwardly extending brace legs it to carry a crown block, IT for mounting the cable and tackle mechanism used in handling a drilling string, running in casing, and other operations incidental to drilling a bore-hole, the o5 tackle being connected with a swivel. head II] In drilling rigs of this type, pressure is applied.

and movable from position when running'in or v that is connected with the upper end of the Kelly rod, as in usual practice.

The structure thus far described specifically forms no part of the present invention, but is illustrated to better define the relation and purs pose of the hydraulic power device used in controlling pressure applied to the bit 8.

The hydraulic power device includes a. pair of spacedcylinders l9 and which are provided with pistons 2| for effecting reciprocation of ill piston rods 22 and 23 that are connected by a cross head 24, the piston rods extending through suitable packing glands 25 and 26 in the upper cylinder heads 21 and 2! of the cylinders. Thelower ends of the cylinders are closed'by heads 15 28 and 30 having pairs of ears 3l-82 and 83-34 for a purpose later described.

Thecross head has a bearing in which is rotatably retained a sleeve 36, having annular collars 81 and 88 engaging the respective'upper l0 and lower faces of the bearing. Carried by the sleeve 36 is a clutch or chuck 39 that is equipped with suitable slips orjaw's arranged to grip the Kelly rod so that the power pistons are efl'ective in applying a downward pressure on theKelly as rod'or a lifting force thereon in controlling the weight on the drill bit.

The hydraulic pistons are operated by a pressure medium that is simultaneously admitted to the respective ends of the cylinders through ports 80. 60 and 4| that are connected by conduits 42 and shaving connection with .a control valve through flexible conduits l5 and 46. The control valve II also includes connections 41 and 48 1 respectively connected with the intake and dis-- 85 charge conpectionsof a fluid pressure supply, such as a hydraulic pump (not shown).

when running in or withdrawing the drilling string, or when running casing into the borehole, it is necessary to move the hydraulic device alignment with the outer sides ofv the hydraulic cylinders and to the rear of the turntable, are brackets 49 and 50 comprising vertical, post-like portions extending upwardly from the platform to a point in substantially horizontal alignment with the top of the cylinders. The base of the 50 post portions are provided with laterally extending flanges Bl that are secured to the platform by fastening "devices, such as bolts 62, extending through the flanges and through 'slotted'openlugs 63 in the platform, as best shown in Fig; 2. 66; I

The post portions of the brackets are braced from the platform by bars 54, having flanged ends 55 that are likewise secured to the platform by fastening devices, such as bolts 56, extending through the flanges 55 and through registering slots 51. The bars 54 are also connected with the post portions of the brackets by bars 58. Pivotally connected with the heads of ,thecylinders, bycap screws or the like 59, are links 60 extending rearwardly therefrom and pivotally connected with the post portions of the brackets by bolts 8| extending through theends of the links and through the post and brace bar portions of the bracket, as best shown in Fig. 3.

Connected by the cars 33 and 34, previously men- .links being secured to the brackets by bolts 64 anchoring the power deviceto the support the opposite side of said brackets.

and to the ears by pivot pins 55.

When the hydraulic mechanism is in the operative position illustrated in Fig. 2, the links 62 are secured to the platform by J bolts 66, having their hook portions 61 engaged over theupper edges of the links and their threaded shanks 68 extending through suitable openings 69 in the platform and securedby nuts 10. When the hydraulic device is to be shifted away from the sides of the turntable, the J bolts are removed and a tackle mechanism is attached to the upper link ill. The tackle mechanism includes a cable Ii operating over a pulley I2 on the legs it of the mast, and which is wound on a Windlass or the like (not shown), that is also carried on the platform. By winding up the cable the upper links are swung on their pivot 6i to the opposite sides of the brackets 49 and 50, the hydraulic devices moving in an are from the operative position to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided an improved supporting mechanism for the hydraulic power device whereby it is moved out of the way when drilling operations are susa pended to permit removal or running, in of the drilling string, or to case the bore-hole, as in .conventional drilling practice.

What I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination witha rotating mechanism, a support carrying said .rotating mechanism, a

power device including a pair of cylinders disposed on opposite sides of the rotating mechanism, brackets on the support and spaced from the rotating mechanism, and spaced pairs of links connecting the cylinders with said brackets whereby the power device is adapted to be moved from position relatively to the rotating mechanism to a substantially corresponding position on 2. In combination with a rotating mechanism, a support carrying said rotating mechanism, a power device including a pair of cylinders'disposed on" opposite sides of the rotating mechanism, brackets on the support and spaced from the rotating mechanism, spaced pairs of links connecting the cylinders with said brackets whereby the power device is adapted to be moved from position'relatively to the rotating mecha; nism to a substantially corresponding positionpn,

the opposite side of said brackets. 1111 means for when in said first mentioned position.

3. In combination with a turntable, a Kelly rod areas-Is rotatable by the turntable, a power augmenting device'connected with the Kelly rod, and means for swingingly supporting the power augmenting device for movement into and out of operative position with respect to the turntable, including a pair of brackets and upper and lower links connecting the power augmenting device with the brackets.

' 4. In combination with a turntable, a platform supporting the turntable and a Kelly rod rotatable by the turntable, a hydraulic power device including a pair of hydraulic cylinders disposed on opposite sides of the turntable, means for re-' leasably connecting the power device with the Kelly rod, and means for swingingly supporting the hydraulic power device for movement into and out of operative position with respect to the turntable, including a pair of brackets located on the platform rearwardly of the cylinders, and upper and lower links pivotally connecting the respective cylinders with the brackets.

5. In combination with a platform, a mast supported on the platform, a, turntablecarried by the platform and 8. Kelly rod rotatable by theturntable, a hydraulic power device including a pair of cylinders vertically disposed on opposite I brackets.

6. Incombination with a platform, a mast supported on the'platform, a turntable carried by theplatform and a Kelly rod rotatable by the turntable, a hydraulicpower device including a pair-of cylinders vertically disposed on opposite sides of the turntable, pistons in the cylinders, rods connected with the pistons, a cross head connecting the 'rods, means on the cross head for releasably engaging the Kelly rod, a pair of brackets located on the platform rearwardly of the cylinders, upper and lower links pivotally connecting the respective cylinders with the brackets, a pulley carried by the mast at a point substantially above said brackets, and a cable operating over thepulley and having connection with the power device for bodily moving the power device from operative position relatively to the turntable to an inoperative position on the opposite sides of said brackets.

7. In a drilling rig, a platform, a power augmenting device including a pair of spaced cylinders, pistons slidable in the cylinders, rods connected with the pistons, a cross head connecting the rods, means on the cross head for grippingly engaging a, drilling string, a pair of brackets located on the platform in spaced relation with. the cylinders, and parallel links respectively' connecting the upper and lower ends 'augmentingdevice, spaced brackets on the platform, links respectively connecting upper and lower ends of the brackets with spaced portions of the power augmenting 'device'to swingingly support the power augmenting device for bodily I movement into and'outoi an operative positionon the platform, and means for anchoringly conneeting the power device with the platform when the, power device is in operative position.

9. In an apparatus of the character described,

- a platform, a power augmenting device, means for swingingly supporting the power augmenting device' for bodilymovement into and out of operlo. ative position on the platform including-a pair of mg the power augmenting device with the brackets whereby the power augmenting device is kept substantially perpendicular position during said transposition, and fastening devices for anchoring selected links to the platform when the power augmenting device is inoperative position on the platform.

WALTER 'r. CALDWELL. w 

